Kerr coached that 1967-68 Bulls team which set the standard for the worst start in franchise history, an 0-9 mark that this season's Bulls squad matched on Monday night.

Like many coaches, Kerr mostly recalls the losses.

"I remember one game in Los Angeles, somebody asked me if I was starting the same way," Kerr says. "I said, `No. Five new guys.' I started my second unit, my pressing team. We went up big right away. Near the end of a pretty close game, I'm talking to my players about an important inbounds play. Their coach, Bill van Breda Kolff, is down there talking to Elgin Baylor and Jerry West. I thought, `We've got no chance.'"

And, indeed, the Bulls didn't, succumbing 125-117 on Oct. 27, 1967. But this portion of the story has a happy ending.

Despite losing three players, including one starter, to an expansion draft, which may have contributed to the record-setting start, the 1967-68 Bulls rallied to win 29 games, make the playoffs and win the first playoff game in franchise history.

For that reason, the 1967-68 Bulls don't make the cut in the Tribune's look at the worst five teams in franchise history, excluding the 1998-99 lockout-shortened season.

Neither does this season's team, although the following list might need to be updated come April 20, 2005.

1. 2000-01: 15-67

This team did it all--except win.

It set franchise records for most consecutive losses with 16, most consecutive road losses with 25 and most consecutive losses at the United Center with eight, which has since been broken.

Fittingly, a 610-game sellout streak came to an end in the team's second home game, the third longest streak in NBA history.

Tim Floyd coached a team that had seven rookies and averaged 22.9 years, the youngest roster in NBA history at that time.

A rookie started in the season opener, but it wasn't lottery picks Marcus Fizer or Jamal Crawford. That honor went to the forgettable Khalid El-Amin, which pretty much sums up this train wreck, the worst record in franchise history.

2. 2003-04: 23-59

Other teams lost more games than this season's squad. But for sheer disappointment, this team earns the No. 2 bid.

Expectations were high, the playoffs were guaranteed and no excuses were allowed, per T-shirts made by new general manager John Paxson.

Then the Bulls got blown out by 25 points against Washington in the season opener, and it all went downhill from there.

Coach Bill Cartwright didn't make it to the 15th game and Scottie Pippen, signed to provide veteran savvy for a playoff run, only appeared in 23.

The disappointment prompted Paxson to begin his current rebuilding attempt in haste, trading Jalen Rose and Donyell Marshall to Toronto one week after he fired Cartwright.

3. 1999-2000: 17-65

Dickey Simpkins started at center in the season opener. Do we need to say more?

If we must, this is the lowest-scoring and third-worst shooting team in franchise history.

Throw out co-Rookie of the Year Elton Brand and old standby Toni Kukoc, who mercifully escaped via trade, and this team couldn't score if it were left alone in a gym.

4. 1975-76: 24-58

Perhaps the oddest selection given that the previous season's team won 47 games and the following season's team won 44 and both made the playoffs.

The team lost Chet Walker to a messy contract dispute that ended in court, but the core unit of Bob Love, Tom Boerwinkle, Norm Van Lier and Jerry Sloan remained.

The Bulls led the league in most defensive categories but won only six games in the final six weeks, forcing Dick Motta's resignation as coach.

5. 1983-84: 27-55

Rarely competitive on the court, this team created whispers of substance abuse off it.

Either way, this Kevin Loughery-led bunch that consisted of guys like Orlando Woolridge, Dave Corzine and Quintin Dailey never had a chance.

At least its record netted the third overall pick in the 1984 NBA draft, which turned into one Michael Jeffrey Jordan.

Jordan rarely endured losing streaks like the one this current Bulls team is on and the one that Kerr experienced in 1967.

"It's hard on you as a coach," Kerr says. "You don't sleep well. You worry about players getting down. Every break seems to go against you. You wonder if it's ever going to come to an end.